Aquatic Center, Water Slides, Lazy River Planned Downtown!

There are many downtown proposals that I look at and say: who thinks that is a good idea? And there a few that look interesting and that I hope work out well. The new downtown park proposal for Lamar Beach looks so crazy awesome that all I can say is that I would like for it to be done now.

If this gets built, it will transform downtown daytime fun with a beautiful mix of architecture, pools, water slides, diving boards, lazy rivers, ballparks, running trails, lakes, and natural landscaping. The renderings below tell the full story.

According to the Austin Business Journal, “More details have been obtained about the YMCA’s proposed public-private partnership for the Lamar Beach park area currently made up of the Town Lake Animal Center and ball fields north of Cesar Chavez between MoPac Expressway and Lamar Boulevard.

A team of architects, designers and engineers mostly from the Austin area worked with the YMCA and the city to come up with the concept of a sustainable multi-purpose park.

The YMCA is committed to raise $10 million to $15 million in capital for the project, estimated to cost $38 million to $42 million, said James Finck, president and CEO of the YMCA.

He said they hope to include $25 million to $30 million in funding for the project on the city’s 2012 bond initiative. . .

The aquatic center will be open to the public and operated by the YMCA.

The 29-lane, 70-meter pool should be welcome news for swim teams that have trouble finding space to meet.

“We can’t keep up with demand,” Finck said. He said the YMCA will continue using its indoor pools.

Additionally, there will be a recreational pool with water slides and a lazy river.

Plans for the surrounding facility include offices, a multipurpose room, retail and a cafe.

Also planned for the 35-acre site is a bio-filtration pond, a boardwalk, a trail that runs along the roof of the aquatics facilities building, a multipurpose field that could host concerts and events, bike lockers and restroom facilities. The current roadways will be connected along the north and more parking will be added.”